Last Friday, the New South Wales Government announced an exemption for licensed venues which will allow them to stay open past their lockout time if they broadcast major sporting events. However, the lockouts are still in place if you venue is hosting live music.
As Sky News reports, the NSW Government has made a lockout exemption for various Olympic events, as well as the NRL Grand Final, which is set to take place on Sunday, 2nd October.
“While you might not be able to replicate the atmosphere in Rio, getting down to your local with some friends and cheering on our Aussie heroes has got to be the next best thing,” Deputy Premier Troy Grant said in a statement.
These exemptions follow on from the favourable treatment already granted to casinos, leaving music fans wondering what they’ve done to deserve such a double standard.
If the Deputy Premier is endorsing staying up all night and throwing back frothies at the local with your mates while watching the rugby, yet refuses to offer the same concessions for live music, there are clearly some even bigger issues with the NSW government’s policies than we first realised.
